By Bernice Bessey & Pics Eric Owiredu
Yara Ghana, a fertiliser distribution compan
y, has recycled used fertilizer sacks into school bags to support education and environmental cleanliness in the country.
The initiative, which is part of Yara’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) to encourage education, recycling and sustainable farming in rural areas of the country, handed over 800 school bags to Pantang Presbyterian Primary School children in the Greater Accra Region, on Tuesday.
According to Yara, it has produced 10,000 school bags which would be distributed to 40 schools in farming communities in the country. The fertiliser distribution company explained that all 10,000 school bags are produced from a total of 7,500 used Yara fertiliser sacks, and will be handed over to schools in three regions – North, Central and Ashanti.
This exercise is expected to be carried out throughout this year and the first quarter of 2017. In order to win the children’s hearts on the importance of education, each bag was packed with a a notepad and a pencil.
The Managing Director of Yara Ghana, Mr. Sergio Godoy, addressing a gathering of students, teachers, parents, chiefs and government officials, said the main objective of this project is to emphasise the importance of education and agriculture in the rural farming communities, while promoting recycling and re-using waste.
He added that the company appreciates the need to support schools in rural communities through education to help increase local knowledge and ultimately promote economic transformation through agriculture.
“Yara is committed to ensuring that farming remains a profitable and sustainable activity for the future generations of Ghana, and education is key to achieving this aim. This is why we are dedicated to investing in rural education through this initiative. Through the 10,000 school bags project we hope to emphasise the value of education, especially, to farming communities, while promoting sustainability and waste management,” he indicated.
Also at the event was the Deputy Minister for Environment, Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Bernice Heloo, who said: “I am so happy that these bags are made in Ghana. Through this kind gesture, a child will remain in school and might become a great person in future. Last, but not least, by using recycled fertiliser bags, we are protecting our environment.”
The Minister of Education also lauded the initiative, saying: “Education is one of the most powerful investments in a country, because it is critical to a nation’s development – Ghana is no different. As Minister of Education, I am pleased that Yara is focusing, not only on education, but has chosen to invest in our little ones – our next generation of leaders. It is my hope that more corporations will follow Yara’s example by helping to advance rural education in Ghana.”
The pupils expressed great joy and gratitude to Yara for its generous donation. A Prefect at the Presbyterian Primary School thanked Yara on behalf of his colleagues, saying, “We are extremely grateful to Yara for making this donation. We promise to put these bags to good use by taking our studies seriously and excelling.”
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